Disconnecting switch



Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES arena" JOHN B. MACH-BILL AND JAMES M. BROWN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A-

SIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8e IORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

lwANUFACTUfll'NG COMPANY, A COR- DISCONNECTING SNITCH;

Application filed October 8, 1919. Serial No. 329,211.

Our invention relates to disconnecting switches, having special relation to switches used for breaking heavy currents, and it permits these switches to operate surely and positively, with no accidental displacement of the parts.

More particularly, our invention relates to disconnecting switches comprising petticoat and pin-type insulators and to means for insuring the accurate engagement of the knife blade with the break jaws.

Heretofore, in using disconnecting switches comprising petticoat and pin-type insulators, the hin ge-jaw clamps have been found to have a tendency to rotate on the the axes of the insulators to which they were fastened. This rotation of the hingejaw clamp caused the knife blade to be thrown out of alignment with the break jaws, and, consequently, the blade and break jaws would not engage when the movement of the former to circuit-closing position was attempted.

An object of our invention is to provide a structure in which rotative movement of the hinge jaw clamp is rendered impossible and, at the same time, the construction is simple and durable.

lVith these and other objects in view, which may be incident to the use of theimprovements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with theunderstanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, we have shown, in the accompanying drawings, means for carrying the same into practical efiect without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions, which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of a switch embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modification of the switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4c is a side elevation of the modification shown in Fig. 3.

Referring co-Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates a baseboard on which are mounted, by bolting or other suitable means, a plurality of in? that extends through the above mentioned slot. One end of the bar 7 is firmly bolted to the top of the insulator 4L and its other end to the top of the insulator 3. The ter-.

mina] 5 is bolted, with the bar 7, to the insulator 4. To the top of the insulator 2 are bolted the terminal 6 and a break jaw 11, suitably slotted to receive the free end of the knife blade 10.

The knife blade 10 is provided with an aperture 10a near its point of engagement with the break aw 11, which permits operation of the switch by means of a hook or any other proper instrument.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the support, comprising the two insulators 3 and 4: for the hinge jaw clamp 8 of the switch, is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the switch. The insulators 3 and 4 are connected by the connecting bar 7, which is suitably bolted to their tops. The hinge-jaw clamp 8 is formed integrally with the bar 7, with the slot for the reception of one end of the knife blade 10 at right angles to the axis of the bar 7. F ormed integrally with the bar 7, and adjacent to the hinge jaw clamp 8, is an extension 12 which projects horizontally at both sides of the bar 7 and to which the conductor terminal 5 is bolted.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that, by reason of the hinge jaw clamp 8 and the connecting bar 7 being formed integrally, there can be no relative movement between them. The connecting bar 7 is always mounted between the two insulators 3 and 4t and so cannot suffer dis-' placement or rotative movement. As long as the insulators supporting the connecting bar 7 remain in place, the knife blade 10 will always move in the same plane to engage accurately, on the closing of the switch, with the break jaw 11.

Although we have shown and described. our invention as applied to a-speeific structure, such as a disconnecting switch, it evident thatit may be applied to many other types of apparatus, and that various modifications ,may be'made therein: without departing from the spirit and; scope of the appended claim. 7

\Ve claim as our invention A supporting member for a disconnecting switch comprising a metallic strip, oppositel-y extending ears located at' the center of said st-i-i-pfor attaching anelectrical c0nductor, a pair of bossesfo securing a switch member extending from a-iace of said strip in alinement with said ears, the ends of said strip: being providedwith: securing means for saidzstrips. 7 i

In testimony whereof We havehereunto subscribed our names this 30th day of Sept, 1919 I JOHN B. MAONEILL. JAMES BROWN. 

